CravenRail The newsletter for supporters of SELRAP: - the -East Rail Action Partnership Issue 11 Summer 2008

“After meeting with Tom Harris, the Rail Minister, my understanding is that the Government has no objection to the reopening of disused rail lines, provided that the economic case stacks up” ..... Brian Simpson MEP & Socialist Group Spokesman Transport/Tourism. “And a recently-published study carried out by JMP Consulting demonstrates beyond doubt that there is a sound economic case for reopening the Skipton- line. So it can only be a matter of time before the contractors move in!”..... Ed.

MISSING LINK II: Skipton 2008 NEW STUDY EXTRA MILES TO BRINGS BRIDGE THE GAP SKIPTON- COLNE RAIL LINK CLOSER STILL

Colne 2008

Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership RECONNECTING YOUR REGION

Patrons: Richard Bannister, Rt Rev. Nicholas Reade, MPs David Curry, Nigel Evans, Gordon Prentice, Kitty Ussher, MEPs Chris Davies, Den Dover, Timothy Kirkhope, Diana Wallis. 2 SELRAP’s campaign to reopen the Skipton-Colne rail- way continues to redefine the boundaries of what is Contents achievable by a voluntary group. The business of re- opening a railway has been likened to pushing a boulder uphill. But driven by a passion to replace just

FRONT COVER” a tiny part of a transport network trashed in the dash As yet another high pro- for modernity forty years ago, the group is increas- file demonstration of the need to reopen the line ingly hitting the high notes. And, thanks to the vast between Colne and Skip- amount of work willingly undertaken by SELRAP’s ton, SELRAP’s second charter train, “The Miss- dedicated team, there’s a growing feeling amongst ing Link II” followed a Joe Public and his next door neighbour that it really 135 mile circular route via and Helli- has become a question of when the railway reopens, field ..... before return- and not if. ing via Leeds, Bradford and Hebden Bridge. The train is shown shortly All of that said, it remains a fact that there are those after arrival in Skipton. who, incredulous at the prospect of returning a rail- AND TO THE RIGHT: Focussing on the busi- way to the region, find it difficult to get beyond im- ness case for the Skip- ages of steam trains, derelict track ..... and tales of ton-Colne railway, publication of the JMP the railways as they were years ago. Before bloody Skipton: October 28th 2007. And a peek into the future. study has brought its re- Beeching wiped away connection with the rest of the The train now standing at platform 3 is the 11.37 from Colne. opening closer still. nation for thousands of communities. But it is images such as these that drive those at the MAKING A DIFFERENCE of SELRAP’s campaign to reinstate the Skipton- SELRAP’s campaign goes from strength to strength ..... Colne railway. And whilst being a stark reminder of and continues to break the mould. what has been lost to the region, those images also offer a crucial window on future. For it is a fact that 3 COMMENT almost forty years on from closure of the Skipton- On just how an early Victorian sized rail network copes Colne line, there are many for whom the notion of with 21st century demands. joined up transport to the rest of the nation is simply not an option. Together with the widely acknowl- HEADLINES edged economic, social and environmental benefits 4 JUST FOR THE RECORD that rail services bring to the communities they serve. How it was fifty 4 2007: WHAT A YEAR years ago. Joined up transport at (mid way be- 5 A CHANGE IN THE WIND tween Skipton & Colne) ..... showing NEWS a BR Standard Class 2 Tank Engine in 5 MISSING LINK II GOES EXTRA MILES charge of a local train. 6 ECONOMIC CASE STACKS UP Photo: Courtesy of 7 STUDY LAUNCHED Barry Atkinson 8 BETTER STILL 9 YET MORE HEAR OF SELRAP 9 HITTING THE HEADLINES How it is ..... the trackbed between Thornton in 9 CATALOGUE OF SUPPORT GROWS Craven and El- slack in remark- able ondition ..... 10 NEW PATRON and seemingly ready for the re- 10 SELRAP IN WESTMINSTER turn of rails.

But wait ..... 11 KILBRIDE Isn’t that a train waiting for rails 11 NEW INITIATIVES too! WHAT ELSE Increasingly regarded as one of the UK’s most high profile rail reopening pressure groups, SELRAP sees 11 EXPANDING ON NOSTALGIA beyond the images above, and to the return of a rail- way designed to serve the wider needs of the 21st 12 JOIN US: MEMBERSHIP FORM century, together with its changing demographics. 12 SELRAP CONTACT DETAILS To this end, SELRAP continues to engage with those 12 WHAT NEXT at the highest level. And following publication of the highly acclaimed JMP study into the business case for 12 HOW YOU CAN HELP the line, SELRAP is pursuing an action plan aimed at all levels of Government, the rail industry, and more. 12 EVENTS SELRAP: breaking the mould, and making a difference 12 MEETINGS SCHEDULE to transport! Comment 3 Reduced to a network no bigger than it was 150 years ago, many rail routes are now up to capacity, whilst the loss of strategic links such as the Skipton- Colne line ensures that others remain dysfunctional.

Time travellers turning back the clock 150 years would find life very different to their own. Visitors would step from their Tardis into a steam driven revolution busily transforming a largely rural economy into the world’s first industrialised nation. But what has any of this got to do with SELRAP’s campaign to reopen the Skipton- Colne railway line? For surely the far-off world of 1858 is something that took place then. And SELRAP’s campaign to reopen a disused railway is now. Yet it is a fact that without effective transport none of that economic growth could have taken place. And despite the passage of years nothing has changed on that score. For it also remains a fact that neither raw material nor labour is of value until the two can be brought together. And their outcome transported to a point of sale. History reveals that the nation’s economy has always been a reflection of its trans- port infrastructure, be it packhorse track, turnpike road or canal. And, unable to cope with the demand for growth, in turn each was usurped. Thus, by 1858 a 10,000 mile [and growing] network of railway lines was servicing the needs of a rap- idly developing industrial economy. Funny thing, history. For, alongside the assertion that it offers a window on the future, it also has a habit of laying down land mines ready to rear up unexpectedly in our faces. Sadly, ongoing examples of the latter are to be found the world over. Closer to home, fifty years ago the UK was embracing modernity with a will. Teenagers, pop music, indoor bathrooms. Supermarkets and tower blocks. A brave vision of a brand new economy. Concrete. Cortinas. And empty roads to drive them on. Together with the prospect of industrial estates and out of town shopping centres trailing in the wake of the motorway. At the start of the era briefly outlined above, almost 20,000 miles of railway lines still linked most parts of the country. And few were far from their national transport network. I guess that hindsight is a wonderful facility. But the fact remains that in economic, environmental and social terms, fifty years on, land mines that oversaw the loss of a once-complete rail network are doing exactly what it said on the box. Our highway network is slowly choking on its own success. As worsening road con- gestion results in longer and unpredictable journeys for both passenger and freight. And the cost to the nation of all those delays? £20 billion per year. Roughly trans- lating to a congestion charge of £330 for each and every one of us. So what’s the answer? Innovative and proactive Government policies aimed at a dramatic increase in the use of rail transport. That should fix it. But hang on. A rail network of 10,000 miles. Isn’t that where we came in? On an early Victorian rail network tasked with servicing the needs of a population yet to reach 25 million. Set to the backdrop of a modern economy supporting a population of 60 million, FIT FOR PURPOSE. OR HISTORY WAIT- questions concerning the fitness for purpose of a rail network no bigger than it was ING TO REAR UP IN OUR FACES? 150 years ago beg to be asked. The more so when those much-vaunted increases The upper map shows an approxima- in both passenger and freight traffic are factored into the equation. Together with tion of the 10,000 mile UK rail network as it was in 1858. The major industri- the fact that demand is artificially regulated by fares said to be the highest in the alised regions were already connected, world. Imagine the demand for rail travel if regular fare structure was transparent, but more rural areas waited until later in the century for their rail services. coherent ..... and equated to ordinery folks’ ability to pay. At a stroke, much of NB. Skipton-Colne (opened 1848) line current car use would wind up a no-brainer. But I imagine it would need a policy! arrowed.

The centre map shows the network as Longer trains for half of the nation who already enjoy the luxury of a rail service is a it was 50 years ago, when almost commendable notion. The other 30 million of us look forward to long term commit- 20,000 route miles of railway still linked most parts of the country. ment, at Government level, to realtime expansion of the network ..... together with the proven and well documented benefits it will offer. As shown in the lower map, with the exception of a few lines still open in the Reinstating just 11½ of railway between Skipton and Colne will open up a new Highlands of Scotland and rural Wales, the current 10,000 mile UK rail network strategic trans-Pennine route for passengers and freight. And as such it has the po- bears a striking resemblance to the one tential to offer services to a whole tranche of the population for whom rail travel is that serviced the nation 150 years ago. currently not an option. Maps courtesy of Tony Gosling, free- lance journalist Makes you think? It should. And yes, the campaign goes on. Andy Shackleton - Editor 4

JUST FOR THE RECORD, SELRAP ..... Linking the economies of Yorkshire & Humberside, Leeds, Bradford and the Aire Valley with those of The Skipton-East Lancashire Rail Action Partner- East Lancashire, Manchester, Preston and Mersey ship is a voluntary group campaigning for the re- ports beyond, reopening the Skipton-Colne line as instatement of the Skipton–Colne railway part of the National Network will allow additional line as part of a new, modern, trans-Pennine through services between the two City Regions of route for passengers and freight. As if mem- Central Lancashire (which covers East and West bers of SELRAP or, indeed, any of the group’s rap- Lancashire) and Leeds. Double tracked idly expanding network of high profile throughout and electrified, the railway would supporters and followers needed reminding. But establish a Northern Cross Rail Link, as out- there are times in life when, in order to get a fix lined within Northern Way Strategy. on what we are about, where we are going, and how we are to set about achieving those objec- The 11½ mile trackbed between Skipton and tives, it is wise to step back for a moment, and Colne has not been redeveloped, and intensive take a peek from the outside. lobbying by SELRAP has seen it formally pro- tected against any future development that With this in mind, and for those new to SELRAP, it would prevent its future use as a railway. might be worth catching up with the story so far. Local plans for both Pendle Borough and Craven Established just seven short years ago, led by an District Councils include support for reopening executive committee with task-specific officers, what will be the most easily graded trans-Pennine progress towards the group’s ultimate goal of route. And both Lancashire and restoring through rail services to the Skip- County Councils have included implicit support for ton-Colne corridor has been startling. Indeed, the reopening within respective Local Transport in the face of formidable odds, and not a little ap- Plans (LTP2) for the period 2006–2011. athy on the part of some who ought to have known better, SELRAP’s list of achieveme- In addition to enjoying the endorsement of ten ments and supporters grows ever longer. high profile Patrons, SELRAP has received letters And in their spare time the group’s volunteers of support for reopening the line from 105 MPs, 36 have made a start on redefining the meaning of MEPs and 46 Members of the House of Lords, to- “impossible”. To SELRAP, this simply means gether with over 110 Local Authorities within the tasks take just a little longer! catchment area of its wider corridor. Back, now, to where we came in: the map below You, the reader, will be the first to appreciate that reveals just why the Skipton-Colne railway is re- none of this is accidental. It is the combined re- garded as the missing link between the rail net- sult of a vast amount of work undertaken by vol- works of the North West and Yorkshire: unteers who have a passion for the return of a rail link fit for the purpose of projecting an entire region and its economy into a joined up 21st century. But as the concept metamorphoses into one of those irrisistable buy one, get one free offers it gets better still. Which roughly translated, points to the fact that for the price of re-building just 11½ miles of railway, a much-needed East/West Coast Mail Line link will be created Over half of which is already electrified! 2007: WHAT A YEAR SELRAP’s campaign to reopen the Skipton-Colne railway has an enviable track record of pushing at the boundaries of what is achievable by volunteers. But by any standards 2007 was a landmark for the group. The route survived Beeching, only to be closed as It has been said that SELRAP’s proposals are un- a through route in 1970 after the Skipton-Colne stoppable. For proof of that notion, consider the section failed to gain subsidy under Barbara Cas- fact that: tle’s 1968 Transport Act. From its junction with • At the beginning of the year SELRAP made a decision the , its remnants struggle on to re-examine the business case for reopening the as the short dilapidated and under-used sin- Skipton-Colne railway. This decision was based on ad- gle(d) line branch to Colne. Under the protec- vice of , together with the fact that, coin- tive umbrella of the East Lancashire Community cidentally, the DfT was indicating that only when the Rail Partnership the line is secure. For now. But business case for reinstating the Skipton-Colne line nothing can get away from the fact that its mas- was shown to stack up, could SELRAP’s proposals be taken seriously. sive infrastructure was designed for double track • On April 1st SELRAP’s groundbreaking “Missing Link” and heavy use. And the reality is that until charter train became the first rail service to link Colne through services are restored to the corridor, and Skipton since closure of the direct route 37 years this valuable transport resource is being earlier. But that high proflile event was just one part under-utilised on a grand scale. of an amazing year. One that brought a permanent rail link between the two towns closer still. 5

• Later that month a SELRAP delegation was invited to on it by the nation’s travellers and trade. The attend the Route Utilisation Strategy consultation more so when one considers that our gridlocked meeting for the Lancashire & region. As a re- road network has gained the unenviable reputa- sult of that meeting, SELRAP was able to make a sub- tion of being an increasingly unreliable way mission to that strategy, outlining the case for reinstating the Skipton-Colne line ..... and is cautiously of getting anywhere on time. optimistic that when made public later this year, the Set to a backdrop such as this, the statement (see outcome will further boost the group’s proposals. inset) made by Brian Simpson MEP & Socialist • In July, backed by funding from The North West Rail Group Spokesman for Transport & Tourism at a re- Campaign, , Craven District cent meeting with SELRAP is a natural sequel. Council, Railfuture, together with individual donations, SELRAP commissioned JMP Consulting to carry out a THE MISSING LINK II study focussing on the business case for reinstating the Skipton-Colne railway line. What form of transport could possibly take more • In October, taking a 135 mile circular route via Black- than an hour and a half to cover the short dis- burn, Hellifield, Leeds, Bradford and Hebden Bridge as tance between between Colne and Skipton? a further high profile demonstration of the need to re- And even longer for the return journey. open the direct route, SELRAP’s second train named, unsurprisingly, “The Missing Link II” travelled from Colne to Skipton and back. • In November the long awaited JMP study into the busi- ness case for reopening the Skipton-Colne line was made public. Published in modular format, the report is complemented by a full colour brochure outlining the major points within the 80 page document. The study is a thorough vindication of SELRAP’s long held con- tention that demand for the return of rail services be- tween Skipton-Colne line is there. But that is now backed up by a broad based business case that has proved to be the catalyst for a series of major new ini- tiatives. See main heading for details. • In March this year SELRAP made a presentation in the House of Commons. See main heading for details. The brief summary above fails to do justice to the Sounds like the one about the somewhat pompous amazing amount of work willingly undertaken by land owner who proudly told of the fact that it SELRAP volunteers. Or the increasingly posi- took him several hours to drive round the perime- tive signs that it is all beginning to pay off. ter of his estate ..... only to learn that his listener And all of this, interestingly, at a time when, inso- had a car like that ..... once!! far as rail reopenings are concerned, the line (no Just 11½ miles separate Skipton from Colne. pun intended) taken by the DfT appears to be But in tranport terms, it seems like the best part softening a little around the edges. Did I hear of an awful lot further if, for whatever rea- you say “About time too?” Fact is, though, that son, you don’t care to drive. with this kind of momentum as a backdrop, the group is able to pile yet more pressure on those with the power to say “yes”. And, con- cerning the latter in no small manner of means, from where the author is sitting, there does ap- pear to be a ..... A CHANGE IN THE WIND For all sorts of reasons that the reader cannot be unaware of, despite the denials, it had to hap- pen sooner or later. A change in Government at- titude towards reopening disused railways, that is. “After meeting with Not least, perhaps, for the fact Tom Harris, the Rail that the next door neighbours Minister, my under- all appear to have taken on standing is that the board the fact that for a whole raft of economic, environ- Government has no And on Sunday 28th October, packed mental and social reasons, Upper & lower pics. objection to the re- with over 200 people who had cho- investment in reinstating rail “The Missing Link opening of disused sen not to drive, SELRAP’s second lines is proving to be a win- II” arriving in rail lines, provided Colne and [inset], charter train “The Missing Link II” ner in more ways than one. In- that the economic close up of head- took almost four hours for the re- deed, as we speak, so to speak, board. case stacks up” turn journey between the two programmes aimed at reinstat- Crowds waiting to board “The Missing towns. ing certain strategic rail routes are ongoing in Link” on Colne sta- Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Repub- tion and [inset] It really doesn’t get much dafter. Councillors Allan- lic of Ireland. There has to be something in it. Buck and Carole But that was the whole point. And For let us be under no illusion that England’s Manley, Mayors what with the regular trains on the early Victorian-sized rail network, is uniquely [respectively] of Colne branch being made up of half- Pendle & Skipton. able to cope with snowballing demands made empty two car Pacer units, as a 6 media event it doesn’t get much bigger than pared for Lancashire and North Yorkshire County the packed four car class 156 train specially Councils by consultants Steer Davies Gleave in chartered from Northern. Like April 1st 2007 2003. The latter concluded that reinstating [when SELRAP operated its first train] Colne sta- the Skipton-Colne line is technically feasible, tion was more reminiscent of Wakes Week as and that it had a long term future as a hundreds of passengers crowded on to the strategic trans-Pennine route. platform waiting to board. Following the route taken by SELRAP’s first train, “The Missing Link II” SELRAP had been aware for some time that there picked up more passengers in Nelson, , Ac- is much within the SDG report to be commended. crington and Blackburn, before heading up the That said, insofar as the potential for traffic on a line to Hellifield ..... and on to Settle reopened Skipton-Colne line is concerned, projec- Junction for a second reversal in direction and a tions within the report were becoming increasingly fast trip to Skipton, where travellers had a 2½ outdated. The more so within the context of hour break before continuing their journey. modern day patterns of modal shift [to rail], ever-changing demographics, increasing road congestion, and more. Thus the need to upgrade the business case for reopening the Skipton-Colne railway. Added to which was the fact that both Network Rail and the DfT had made it clear to SELRAP that only when the business case for reinstating the line was proven, could the group’s proposals be taken seriously. And following extensive fund raising, in July 2007, SELRAP commissioned JMP Consulting to carry out a study focussed on the business case for reopening the Skipton-Colne railway. Entitled “Re-opening of the Skipton-Colne Travellers were joined for the journey by Railway”, and published in modular format, the Councillor Allan Buck, Mayor of Pendle and 80 page document is supplemented with a full Councillor Carole Manley, Mayor of Skipton. colour brochure outlining the main points. On arrival in Skipton, both Mayors made speeches emphasising their councils’ support for SEL- RAP’s aim of reinstating the rail link between the two towns, and adding that re-building the line would be of great benefit to employ- ment, inward investment, tourism and the Above: environment. Then in the best traditions of rail “The Mising Link II” soon after openings, and to cement the link between neigh- arrival in Skipton bouring councils, both Mayoral parties, together Right: with top brass from SELRAP, headed off for a cele- JMP Study: “Re- bratory meal at a nearby hotel. opening of the Skipton to Colne After a non-stop sprint down the Aire valley Railway” & the Colour Brochure line to Leeds in just 28 minutes, “The Missing outlining the main Link II” continued its journey back to Colne via points. Bradford, Hebden Bridge and the Copy Pit route. Regarded by all as a grand day out, the 135 mile The modules are: return journey between Colne and Skipton took more than four hours and involved no less ● Executive Summary. than five reversals of direction. When the ● Engineering & Train Operations. missing link between the two towns is reopened, the [return] journeywill take just 30 minutes. ● Market Assessment & Cost:Benefit Analysis. Yet another first for SELRAP, the media made much of the fact that “The Missing Link II” car- ● Wider Economic, Environmental and ried a clear message concerning the need to Social case. reopen the direct line. It is clearly beyond the scope of this newsletter to ECONOMIC CASE FOR SELRAP STACKS UP go into detail. Suffice to say, overleaf is a brief resume of the major points outlined in the study: A recently-published study carried out by JMP Consulting demonstrates beyond doubt that there Key Messages of the JMP study: is a sound economic case for reopening the ● Reopening of the railway between Skipton and Skipton-Colne line. Colne as part of a new trans-Pennine route has The study has its roots in an earlier report pre- strategic and regional value: it will connect the Leeds and Central Lancashire City Regions. 7

● Additionally, reinstating the Skipton-Colne line Note that both single and double track re- could become the catalyst for the restora- build scenarios show a Benefit Cost ratio in tion of direct rail links between East Lan- excess of 1.5. cashire and Manchester via an upgraded In accordance with DfT guidance, figures used Blackburn-Bolton line, or a reinstated Todmor- within the study were calculated to Network Rail den West Curve. Or both! Ed. GRIP stage 1 (Guide to Railway Investment ● The line could provide a link between the East Projects) ie. +/- 40%. and West Coast Coast Main lines. And ports. And much of that route is already electrified! Ed. The DfT also requires that a loading of: ● The entire trackbed is safeguarded against ● 66% is added to costs. development that would prevent its re-use as and also that: a railway. And it is feasible to construct a ● 41% is added to annual operating costs. single or double track railway at a cost of between £43 Million and £81 Million ..... The rationale behind these massive cost hikes lies the latter including the cost of re-doubling be- rooted in massive overspends in the early days of tween [Burnley] Gannow Junction and Colne. privatisation. Who can forget the long-running media series based on the cost over-run on the ● Based on a 3% growth rate per annum [for upgrade? The DfT has not! patronage of new line], forecasts indicate that, by 2014, 341,000 additional rail passen- And whilst it has to be said that costs associated gers will be carried ..... generating an annual with rail projects have now been brought under revenue of £914,000 in the year 2014. control, figures for the Skipton-Colne rail re- opening proposal are saddled with those ● Based on a 4% growth NB Worth noting is that “avoidance of burnt fingers” supplements. rate, by 2014, passenger since taking over the fran- Yet, as JMP point out within the study, those pre- figures are projected to chise in December 2004, pa- miums are usually managed down as the be 565,000 ..... gener- tronage throughout scheme becomes better defined ..... thus boost- ating an annual revenue ’s patch has in- creased by 23% ..... equating ing the BCR still further. of £1.51 million in the to an annual growth rate of year 2014. And by 2024, 7% ..... and also the fact that But you know what? Even with those massive passenger figures are set in the last 10 years, rail penalties (and it doesn’t get much more mas- to rise to 759,000 ..... travel to Leeds increased by sive than 66% and 41%) factored into the 100% ..... which also equates equation, the figures for reopening the Skip- generating an annual in- to a 7% growth pa. Ed. come of £2.04 million. ton-Colne railway still stack up! ● The economic appraisal demonstrates that a Although the financial performance for the single number of service options will provide track option stacks up favourably against most value for money. growth and service scenarios at reopening, dou- ble tracking becomes increasingly attractive ● Restoration of the Skipton-Colne rail link will if account is taken of the additional costs of up- reduce Co2 emmisions, reduce the num- grading a working railway at a later date. ber of road accidents and deliver environ- mental and safety benefits of between £7 The more so when set to the backdrop of an anticipated [and more realistic] growth rate approaching 7%. Ed. million and £12 million. So there you have it. The ultimate af- ● Re-opening the line will deliver improved ac- firmation of SELRAP’s long held cessibility, benefiting areas with high levels conviction that, not only is reinstat- of deprivation. ing the Skipton-Colne railway techni- ● Benefits gained through additional employ- cally feasible, but that there is also a ment and visitor spend are estimated to sound business case for the rebuild. have a value in the range £86 million to £195 SELRAP wishes to thank the following million over the appraisal period. organisations and individuals who [to- ● The scheme enjoys strong local, regional and gether] made this groundbreaking national support. report possible: NB For more on SELRAP’s increasing level of support, see page 9. The North West Rail Campaign But pivotal to proceeding with any new rail project Pendle Borough Council is proof that quantifiable benefits will exceed in- Craven District Council curred [capital and ongoing] costs. Known as the Railfuture Benefit: Cost ratio, a figure of 1.5 and above is Additionally, thanks are due to those who travelled regarded as the notional threshold for the on “The Missing Link” special trains (profits fed ongoing interest of both Network Rail and the into funds) and to those who bought the DVDs of DfT. And figures within the study show that a: those journeys. Special thanks are reserved for those who made individual donations to the fund. Benefit: Cost ratio of up to 2.43 is achievable THE STUDY WAS LAUCHED ..... with a single track rebuild. In November last year at a high profile event held and also that: at Herriots Hotel in Skipton. Formerly the Midland A Benefit: Cost ratio of up to 1.53 is achiev- [Railway] Hotel, the venue was more than appro- able with a double track rebuild. priate, as almost 160 years earlier [in October 8

1848] that company opened the railway from Colne bound from Skipton to Colne. Where, after opening in Febru- Skipton: Left to right are ary 1849, it made an end-on junction with the shown SELRAP East Lancashire (later L & Y) Railway ..... thus cre- Chairman Derek ating a through route between the [then] Jennings, Vice Chairman of Craven West Riding of Yorkshire and Manchester. District Council Manuel Camacho, The launch was hosted by SELRAP chairman Derek Director of JMP Con- Jennings who, after welcoming guests [that in- sulting Alan Beswick, SELRAP Li- cluded the media] and speakers, told of the fact aison Officer Andy that this was a pivotal moment in the group’s Shackleton, Deputy Mayor of Skipton history. Councillor Manuel Camacho, Vice Chair- Eric Jaquin. man of Craven District Council and Councillor Eric Jaquin, Deputy Mayor of Skipton, welcomed guests to the town. Steve Broadbent outlined the went on to equate SELRAP’s campaign to reopen history of the Skipton-Colne line, and his vision of the Skipton-Colne railway to “pushing a boulder re-creating it as part of a new through route. uphill.” He added that “getting the line re- opened is a priority for me” ..... and that he Andy Shackleton made a presentation that left would do everything he could towards making it a guests in no doubt about the rationale behind SEL- reality. RAP’s startlingly successful campaign to reopen the Skipton-Colne railway. He pointed out that James Keeley, Prospective Parliamentary Candi- whilst a staggering 7 million passengers per year date for Skipton & Ripon and [Lancashire County use the Airedale line to Leeds, just 800,000 use & Pendle Borough] Councillor Sonia Robinson both services on the [part-singled] added their strong support for reinstating the between Colne and Blackpool. He described to rail link between Skipton and Colne. delegates just how re-opening the “Missing After listening to the presentation of his own com- Link” would transform the region’s strategic pany’s report, Alan Beswick, Director of JMP Con- transport network by providing a rail link be- sulting said “You appear to have a case, even tween the region’s economic drivers of Manchester based on some deliberately conservative as- and Leeds ..... and also act as a catalyst for sumptions.” much-needed regeneration both within and be- yond the immediate corridor of the new route. Mr SELRAP wishes to thank the Skipton Building Soci- Shackleton then went on to outline the main ety and Herriots Hotel for [jointly] sponsoring the thrust of the JMP study ..... together with its launch event. Proactive support such as this is implications for SELRAP’s ongoing campaign. invaluable to SELRAP’s ongoing campaign to re- open the Skipton-Colne railway as part of the Na- Left: Delegates pay care- tional Network. And yet another illustration of the ful attention to the groundswell of support for reinstating the link. To presentation at the launch. see just how much support there is for SELRAP’s Below: proposals, go to page 9. MPs David Curry and Gordon Prentice Yet another first for SELRAP, this groundbreak- (right of screen) lis- ten to Andy. ing study has, not unexpectedly, been the cata- lyst for a series of major new initiatives aimed at racking up the pressure on those with the power to to say “Yes” to reopening the Skip- ton-Colne railway line. Copies of the full report and brochure are obtain- able at a cost of £8.00 inc p&p from Membership Andrea Staltmeier, who spearheaded moves to- Secretary Derek Jennings Tel 01282 690411. Al- wards making the new study a reality, highlighted ternatively the full report and brochure are down- figures within the report making clear the fact that loadable free from SELRAP’s website: the new railway will be of major benefit to the www.selrap.org.uk many deprived areas along the wider corridor BUT THEN IT GETS BETTER STILL created when the Skipton-Colne line is reopened. David Curry, MP for Skipton and Ripon [and SEL- For whilst SELRAP’s proven business case for RAP patron] congratulated the group on the reopening the Skipton-Colne railway is, necessar- “sheer vigour” of its campaign, and went on to say ily, based solely on use by passenger traffic, the that it had to be “..... based on hard economics route has the potential to offer a valuable link ..... and now you have got the business case- for freight services too. Opportunistic by neces- done.” He added that it was possible for pres- sity and nature, realistically rail hauliers could not sure groups to get Government policy changed. be expected to crystal ball gaze at future freight flows that might take advantage of the new route Gordon Prentice, MP for Pendle [and SELRAP pa- once opened. But when the line is up and run- tron] also spoke warmly of SELRAP’s campaign. ning, the new link will open up an alternative He made reference to the fact that the Govern- trans-Pennine route avoiding some congested ment’s answer to calls for capacity enhancement areas. It also has the potential for tapping into is the provision of 1,300 extra carriages. And new markets currently off limits for rail. And 9

who knows the extent of that potential ..... the Easter Ross), Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley), more so when allied to much-needed rail Rt Hon Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye & Lochaber), freight interchange facilities. Ian Stewart (Eccles), Sir Peter Soulsby (Leicester South), Gwyn Prosser (Dover & Deal), Mike Hancock MORE AND MORE ARE HEARING OF SELRAP (Portsmouth South), Mark Oaten (Winchester), Chris Huhne (Eastleigh), Tony Cunningham (Workington), Such is the demand to keep up to speed with SEL- John Hemming (Birmingham Yardley), Albert Owen RAP’s campaign to reopen the Skipton-Colne rail- (Ynys Môn), Rt Hon Stephen Byers (North Tyneside), way that 4,000 copies of the last issue of the Janet Dean (Burton), David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale), Frank group’s newsletter CravenRail 10 were distrib- “I believe restoration of Dobson (Holborn & St Pancras), uted. Even this has proved to be insufficient and the rail link would provide Susan Kramer (Richmond Park), 5,000 copies of this edition have been printed. significant benefits to both the North West and York- Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd), Ian Added to this are e mailed copies and availability McCartney (Makerfield), Norman on SELRAP’s website www.selrap.org.uk shire regions, particularly in opening up employment Lamb (North Norfolk), Tobias Ell- When you have finished reading CravenRail 11, it opportunities and helping wood (Bournemouth East), Fraser would be appreciated if you could to pass it on to to provide closer economic Kemp (Houghton & Washington someone else. links” East), John Leech (Manchester John Battle MP Leeds West Withington), Chris Mullin (Sunder- CravenRail is distributed free of charge to SEL- land South), Dave Anderson RAP members and all other readers. More than a (Blaydon), Sharon Hodgson (Gateshead East & Wash- newsletter, it has come to be regarded as a major ington West), Sir John Butterfill (Bournemouth West) campaigning tool. SELRAP wishes to thank print- Virendra Sharma (Ealing Southall), Mike Wood (Bat- ley & Spen) & Angela Smith (Sheffield Hillsborough) ers Hudson and Pearson for their proactive sup- port of SELRAP’s campaign to reopen the Support from the House of Lords has also grown. Skipton-Colne railway ..... that makes it possible ..... from 19 to 46. The extra peers being: for us to produce CravenRail in eye catching full Rt Revd James Jones (Bishop of Liverpool), Rt Revd colour. That said, readers will appreciate that Nigel McCulloch (Bishop of Manchester), John Lee printing costs are not inconsiderable. And SELRAP (Lord Lee of Trafford), The Rt Revd Peter Forster wishes to thank Passenger Focus for sponsoring (Bishop of Chester), Lord Campbell-Savours, Lord this issue of CravenRail. Blaker, Lord Bradshaw, The Rt Revd Graham Dow (Bishop of Carlisle), Baroness Dean (of Thornton-le- Passenger Focus is Fylde), Alan Haworth (Lord Haworth of Fisherfield), the independent na- Lord Feldman, Lord Marland, Lord Greaves, Lord tional rail consumer Judd, Lord Waddington, Lord Howell, Baroness watchdog, whose mis- Harris, Lord Hoyle, Baroness Scott of Needham sion is to get the best Market, Baroness Lockwood, Lord Brooke of Alver- For more, go to: deal for passengers. thorpe, Viscount Tenby, Lord Graham of Edmonton, ww.passengerfocus.org.uk Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank, Lord Stokes, Lord Slim, Lord Cameron of Dillington & Lord Inglewood But CravenRail is far from the whole story. In- In the same period the number of MEPs backing deed, SELRAP’s campaign to reopen the railway our campaign has increased from 20 to 36. This between Skipton and Colne has been .... means that an astonishing 45% of UK MEPs HITTING THE HEADLINES support SELRAP. The latest recruits are: Not entirely unexpectedly, SELRAP has regularly David Sumberg (NW), Stephen Hughes (NE), Fiona Hall (NE), Robert Kilroy-Silk (E. Midlands), Derek been making the news in the local and regional Clark (E. Midlands), Liz Lynne (W. Midlands), Philip press. And, all of it in a most positive fashion. Bushill-Matthews (W. Midlands), Andrew Duff (East But that’s not all. For the campaign has also seen of England), Giles Chichester (Devon & SW), Roger spreads in the specialist rail press. With fea- Knapman (South West), Neil Parish (South West), tures to be found in “Rail” magazine, “Today’s Graham Watson (South West), John Bowis OBE (Lon- Railways UK” and “Rail Professional.” BBC don), Jean Lambert (London), John Purvis CBE (Scot- TV “Look North” and “NorthWest Today” fea- land) & Glyn Ford (SW). tured “The Missing Link” ..... SELRAP’s first spe- With the exception of just one North East MEP, the cam- cial train ..... being the first to travel between paign to reopen the Skipton-Colne railway is sup- Skipton and Colne for 37 years. And BBC Radio ported by all the MEPs from the North of England. Lancashire, together with Fresh Radio and 2BR NB The full list of MPs, MEPs and Peers who have have regularly featured SELRAP’s fast moving sent letters of support to SELRAP can be found on campaign. Then, in April 2008 SELRAP was fea- our website: www.selrap.org.uk tured on the prestigious Radio 4 programme Action: If either your MP or MEP is not listed on the “You and Yours.” above site, please contact them and ..... ask them to write a letter or e mail supporting the reopening CATALOGUE OF SUPPORT GROWS of the Colne to Skipton railway. A total of 105 MPs have now written letters As the Skipton-Colne railway is a cross border in support of SELRAP’s campaign to reopen the route, it is vital to have the support of both Skipton-Colne railway. In the last six months [Lancashire & North Yorkshire] County Councils. letters of support have been received from: Dr Tony Wright (Cannock Chase), Joan Humble SELRAP has received letters of support from: (Blackpool North), Dave Watts (St Helens North), Greg 33 Lancashire County Councillors: Mulholland (Leeds North West), Austin Mitchell (Great Albert Atkinson, Timothy Ashton, Malcolm Barron, Grimsby), Eric Illsley (Barnsley Central), Mary Creagh Jean Battle, Terry Burns, Mike Calvert, Susie (Wakefield), John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland & Charles, Chris Cheetham, Christopher , 10

William Cropper, Shelagh Derwent, Sarah Fishwick, SELRAP’s campaign also has the support of a wide Christopher Holtom, Jennifer Mein, David O’Toole, variety of businesses, educational establishments, Tim Ormrod, Miles Parkinson, Mark Perks, Tony health authorities, sports clubs, religious bodies, Pimblett, Doreen Pollitt (Deputy Leader), Sonia all three rail unions. And more. At the time of Robinson, Duncan Ruddick, Thomas Sharratt, Richard Shepherd, Joyce Stuart, Stephen Sutcliffe, writing SELRAP has 330 members and 25 affiliated Matthew Tomlinson, Colin Walton, Michael Welsh, groups ..... together with 10 high profile patrons. Dorothy Westell, Francis Williams, Valerie Wilson, Sadly, there is insufficient space to list the vast Jean Yates. number of individuals, businesses and organ- And 19 North Yorkshire County “I am all for reopening / isations that have written letters of support maintaining rail lines and Councillors: for SELRAP’s campaign to reopen the Skipton- links and firmly believe Dr Keith Barnes, Eric Broadbent, that sometime in the fu- Colne railway. But you can see them on our web- Rob Broadley, Gordon Charlton, ture, HM Government will site: www.selrap.org.uk NB Internet facilities Margaret-Ann De Courcey-Bai- wake up to the fact that are available at most local libraries. railways provide an effi- ley, Polly English, John Fletcher, cient and effective means John Fort, Heather Garnett, Action: If your local Council, or a group/organisa- of meeting modern day Richard Hall, Bill Hoult, Michael tion you are a member or user of is not listed, transport needs – freight Knaggs, Carl Les, Morris Light- or people.” please contact, as appropriate, the Chairperson, foot, Steve Macare, J.W. Mar- Secretary or Principal ..... and ask them to write a John Fletcher, NYCC Coun- shall, Shelagh Marshall, Leslie cillor for Great Ayton. letter or email supporting the reopening of the Parkes, John Wren. Colne to Skipton railway. Action: If your County Councillor is not on the NEW PATRON above list, please contact them ..... and ask them to write a letter or email supporting the reopening Timothy Kirkhope MEP for Yorkshire and The Hum- of the Colne to Skipton railway. ber has become SELRAP’s tenth patron. Pictured Lancashire residents go to: below at Knaresborough railway station, he writes: www.lancashire.gov.uk/council/councillors.my- I am delighted to become a Patron of councillorfind.asp or ‘phone 0845 053 0000 SELRAP. The cause of bringing back North Yorkshire residents go to: into use the Skipton-Colne railway line is a very good one, especially as there www.northyorks.gov.uk or ‘phone 0845 872 7374 is firm evidence that more people Over 110 Local Authorities now support SELRAP. wish to travel by rail. And this route They are: would make life easier for a consider- The 3 Unitary authorities of: able number of people. Like all pro- Blackpool, Bradford & Wigan. posals there is a need for not only goodwill from Politicians, but also a The 8 District Councils of: commitment to take action to ensure , Craven, , , Lancaster, that the appropriate funding is in place. With a trackbed Pendle, Preston, . in place and ready to be re-laid, and with a clear demon- 15 Town Councils: stration of need, SELRAP cannot fail. As Conservative , Bentham, , Carnforth, Transport spokesman in Europe I am personally commit- Clitheroe, Hebden Royd, , Knaresborough, ted to improving rail services for Yorkshire and The Hum- Longridge, Penwortham, Settle, Silsden, Skipton, ber. I travel by rail from my home near Knaresborough Todmorden, Whitworth. on a regular basis and I value the infrastructure which is available to me. The SELRAP proposals make good Together with 60 Lancashire Parish Councils: sense. I am pleased to be associated with the organisa- Aighton, Bailey & Chaigley, Arkholme with Ca- tion and will do whatever I can to help it achieve its wood, Barley, , Bickerstaffe, Billington aims. and Langho, , Brindle, Briercliffe with Ex- Regrettably, for contractual reasons, broadcaster twistle, Burscough, Charnock Richard, Clayton-le- Woods, Cliviger, Cockerham, Coppull, Croston, Nicholas Owen has resigned as a patron of the Dunnockshaw & Clowbridge, Earby, Eccleston, Eux- group. SELRAP wishes to thank Mr Owen for his ton, Freckleton, Foulridge, , active support. Grindleton, Habergham Eaves, Haighton, Heapey, SELRAP IN THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT Heath Charnock, Hesketh with Becconsall, Hilldale, Hoghton, , Kelbrook & Sough, Laneshaw- In March a delegation from SELRAP addressed bridge, Lea and Cottam, Little Eccleston with Lar- members of the All Party Parliamentary Rail breck, Longton, North Meols, North Turton, Group. Led by Chairman Derek Jennings, the Pendleton, Read, Reedley Hallows, Ribby with Wrea, Ribchester, Rivington, Booth, group included Frank Filardo and Andy Shackleton Salesbury, Salterforth, Tarleton, Tatham, Trawden, ..... who made a presentation to the group. Wennington, Whalley, Whittington, Whittle-le- Caught on Camera, Woods, Wiswell, Worsthorne-with-Hurstwood, in Committee room 7. Wray with Botton, Woodplumpton, Wrightington. The Houses of Parlia- ment. 18 North Yorkshire Parish Councils: From left to right: Addingham, Austwick, Carleton in Craven, Clapham Gordon Prentice MP, cum Newby, Cononley, Draughton, Embsay with Lord Berkeley, Lord Eastby, Farnhill, Gargrave, Giggleswick, Grassing- Grocott, Norman Baker ton, Hebden, Hellifield, Kirkby Malhamdale, Long MP, Lord Faulkner, Preston, Stainforth, Sutton in Craven, Buckden. Kelvin Hopkins MP, and SELRAP Chairman 9 Parish Councils: Derek Jennings Blackshaw, Burley, Cullingworth, Erringden, Hep- tonstall, , Menston, Steeton-with-Eastburn, Wrose. The team was then able to answer questions And Dent (Cumbria). about the campaign. As a result of this opportu- 11 nity, within Westminster the case for reopening EXPANDING ON NOSTALGIA the Skipton-Colne line is expected to grow. Lord Tony Greaves looks back a little. And casts SELRAP wishes to thank Gordon Prentice MP for his critical eye over the rationale behind SELRAP’s setting up this groundbreaking meeting. The campaign to reopen the Skipton-Colne railway. APPRG comprises over 300 parliamentarians from Back in the 1950s a group of us both houses who are interested in rail issues. used to ride the Yorkshire railway lines for the fun of it, collecting the Interestingly, also presenting to the APPRG was numbers of the engines we saw en the ..... route almost as a “useful” spin-off. KILBRIDE GROUP The Calder Valley lines, the Ha- worth branch, to Whitby via what Kilbride is a subsidiary of the Kilmartin Group, and is now the North York Moors Rail- a specialist transport infrastructure and property way and down the coast, visits to development company focussing, in particular, Bolton Abbey – even the old Great on the rail sector. Northern route between Bradford and Keighley. The rail activities of the group have diversified to include passenger rail line reinstatement But I must make a confession. When we got off at Skipton we projects, where rail infrastructure is put in place never thought to get on a train to to serve development. The study into the rein- Colne. In those days Colne was statement of the Lewes- Uckfield line serving sig- just a place I’d noticed on signposts on the road to holi- nificant housing allocations in the area was funded days in Morecambe. And anyway it was in Lancashire! by Kilbride, and more recently the reinstatement Some years later when I’d learnt better and come to live of the Bere Alston to Tavistock line in Devon has in Pendle the line was still open – just. I remember some been promoted by the group. of the last trains trundling along between Foulridge and Earby. And then nothing. Kilbride are looking at a number of new op- portunities involving community rail projects in a When Pendle Council started up in 1974 we resolved to protect the line and to support re-opening as best we similar way to the Bere Aslton to Tavistock project. could, but it seemed like a gesture in the face of hostile Kilbride Community Rail Managing Director Peter government, a triumph of futile hope over harsh reality. Frost, said “We look forward to meeting SEL- Yet in November last year, on the day before the launch RAP representatives to see if there is any- of the JMP report, I found myself telling the House of thing we can do to help this project, which Lords that reopening is a very serious proposal. has already gathered considerable support Noble Lords have now taken to asking me “how’s your from interested parties.” railway campaign getting on?” I am at pains to correct them. “It’s not my campaign, it’s a group called SEL- A site meeting with Kilbride is scheduled for later RAP”. Which as everyone here will know leads on to in the year. Interesting times for SELRAP! questions about what SELRAP means. For more on Kilbride, see www.kilbridegroup.com For many years I was pessimistic. The railways were contracting and both British Rail and the government NEW INITIATIVES were about “managing decline”. As stated earlier, publication of the JMP study has Two things have happened to change my view – not on been the catalyst for a series of major new ini- the desirability but on the practicality. The first is a com- tiatives. With the business case for reopening plete change in the national context in which the rail- the line now proven beyond doubt, and an ways operate – much due to the fact that the motorways eventual eye on securing funding for the project, are now often full up and there is simply no appetite for duplicating the network. SELRAP delegations have already had most posi 1.21 billion passen- Whether or not the Department for Left to right: ger journeys were Transport is happy about it, their task Brian Simpson made by rail in 2007: now is to manage expansion – for pas- MEP, Andy Shackleton, SEL- More than at any sengers and freight, main lines, com- RAP Chairman time since 1946. muter lines and branch lines. The bottom Derek Jennings, And on a network line is that they’ve at long last ruled out Emma Antrobus roughly half the size line closures, which at least guarantees a it was then. - Coordinator route for Skipton-Colne to join on to! NW Rail Cam- paign, David The second is the formation, growth and strength of Penney SELRAP, and the commitment of the officers and volun- teers who run this brilliant campaign. (There is also of course the underlying strength of the case but that on its tive meetings with Network Rail, Brian Simpson- own would not be enough). MEP, The Northern Way (an amalgam of three So I’m one of the people who will continue to cheer you Regional Development Agencies) and the West on from the sidelines (though not the sidings!) and do Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. And what I can when the chances arise to lend support and more high level meetings are planned. Plainly push the cause with the powers that be. there is a long way to go before trains can, once Thanks to SELRAP I live with increasing confidence that I more, run between Skipton and Colne, but SEL- will be able to add (the appropriate part of) Skipton- RAP is steadfastly following a strategic plan Colne to the tally of all those Yorkshire metals I rode as aimed at breaking the funding logjam. And it a youth! is increasingly evident that the question is no Tony Greaves is a Liberal Democrat member of the longer “if”, but when those trains will run. House of Lords and of Pendle Council. 12

WHAT NEXT A meeting with the Rail Minister Tom Harris is lined up for later in the year. Mr Harris has indi- cated [in advance of the meeting] to SELRAP that before reinstatement of the Skipton-Colne line could be considered, the unequivocal support of both Lancashire and North Yorkshire County Councils is required. MEMBERSHIP FORM A combined total of 52 County Councillors have already written in support of SELRAP’s campaign. Name:...... The LTP2s for both L & NYCC indicate implicit sup- port for reopening the line. Readers will be unsur- Address:...... prised to learn that the lobbying will go on...... There are also plans for a 1½ hour adjournment Tel:...... Mobile:...... debate on the reopening of the Skipton-Colne line e mail:...... in the House of Commons. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP I wish to become a member of SELRAP and enclose my Annual Membership Fee of £5.00 ● Signed up to SELRAP? If not, then join us and help make the Skipton-Colne line England’s first [Concessions: £3], Groups £10, Life £50 rail reopening for the best part of far too long. and/or make a donation by Cheque payable ● Already a member? Then you’ll appreciate the to SELRAP; or by filling out the Standing increasing and exacting workload for those of us Banker’s Order below: at the sharp end of the campaign. Care to join us To: ...... Bank/Building Society, on this fast moving thriller? Contact: the Editor. ● Associated with the media? The Editor of a Na- Branch Code: ...... tional Daily. TV Producer maybe? SELRAP’s cam- Full Address: paign is a force to be reckoned with. And there’s a tale to be told. Mutual benefit to be had! ...... ● Care to sponsor an issue of CravenRail? Or make ...... a donation to the fighting fund? Please do re- member that we are all volunteers. Account Name: ● If you are in a position If you only do what you’ve ...... to say “Yes” then step always done ..... beyond the incredulity Account No: ...... You’ll only get what you’ve ..... and do so! always had ..... Pay To: Yorkshire Bank plc, Market Street, ● And finally, it’s worth Makes you think. Colne BB8 0HT For the Account of: SELRAP: remembering that: It should! Ed. Branch Code: 05 – 03 - 83 Account No: 2007 was a successful year for SELRAP at events 34689554 The Sum of: ...... On the in the Lancs/Yorks. areas - enabling Rail Ambassa- same date each year Dated: ...... dors to discuss the reopening campaign in relaxed community settings. Thanks to all who assisted. Signature: ...... If you would like to assist at future events, an am- Please return to: SELRAP Membership bassador training day is to be held on Saturday Secretary Derek Jennings, 3 Hamilton Rd, June 7th ..... at Greatwood Community Centre, Carr Hall, Barrowford, Lancs BB9 6DE Skipton from 10.00am to 2.00pm. For more de- tails, contact Joy Holdsworth Tel 01282 813116 See SELRAP’s website: www.selrap.org.uk for FORTHCOMING EVENTS: more information on progress towards the restora- tion of rails between Skipton and Colne. Mon. May 5th: May Day, Towneley Park, Burnley: 10am-5pm. No internet at home? Then access our website at your local library (free) ..... or maybe via a friend Sat. May 17th: Community Rail Partnership Day: or relative. Hellifield railway station. With 20,000 hits per month already SELRAP’s web- Fri./Sat./Sun. June 27th, 28th and 29th: 40th An- site has got to be worth a look! niversary Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. Keigh- ley to Skipton special steam trains running. CravenRail is edited by: Sun. August 10th: Trawden Show. Andy Shackleton Sat./Sun. Sept 27th & 28th: Halifax Model Railway Higher Park Farm Exhibition. Kelbrook Road Sat. Oct 4th: Open Day, Community Centre Earby: Barnoldswick 10am-4pm. Lancs OPEN COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR 2008 BB18 5TD .● Mon. 12th May @ 7.00pm: Earby Community Tel: 01282 814358 Centre, New Road, Earby. e mail: [email protected] ● Mon. 14th July @ 7.00pm: St. Stephen’s School, If there are issues you wish to raise, or draw to Gargrave Road, Skipton. the attention of the Executive Committee, please ● Mon. 8th September @ 7.00pm: St. make use of the contact details above. Bartholomew’s Church, Albert Road, Colne.